Development and reproductive performance of Amblyseius eharai (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on different stages of Tyrophagus sp. as a potential factitious prey for mass rearing

Predatory mites belonging to the family Phytoseiidae are key biological control agents of pest mites and thrips in various agricultural systems. This study evaluated the developmental and reproductive performance of Amblyseius eharai when fed on different developmental stages (egg, larva, adult, and mixed) of Tyrophagus sp., a storage mite with potential as a factitious prey for mass rearing. Results showed that A. eharai successfully completed its life cycle on all prey stages, with the shortest developmental duration (7.9 ± 0.19 days) observed when feeding on Tyrophagus eggs. Females fed on larval and adult stages exhibited higher fecundity (≈41 eggs/female) and longer longevity (up to 41.1 ± 0.6 days). Life table parameters indicated stable population growth across all treatments, with intrinsic rates of increase (rₘ) ranging from 0.222 to 0.227 females/female/day and finite rates of increase (λ) from 1.248 to 1.255. These results demonstrate that Tyrophagus sp. can serve as an effective and economical alternative prey for the mass rearing of A. eharai, potentially enhancing the large-scale production and field application of this predator in integrated pest management programs.